Staging a scene from Metamorphosis

Today we staged a scene from Metamorphosis using Artodian techniques.

• First, we looked at what we needed to think about when staging a scene in Artodian style. These included how to make the audience on the edge of their seats, where the audience are sitting, using sound scapes and showing things through physical actions rather than verbal.
• We then got into two groups to stage a scene near the start of Metamorphosis where Gregor realises he is ill. Despite this, we had to do it mainly off text however could add in a few lines if we wanted. Our scene started by creating Gregor's heart. We all leaned on top of each other with three of us on chairs. We then created a beating sound, an effective soundscape, and moved up and down as if Gregor was breathing in and out. Me and Lloyd kept this going and gradually made it faster and faster whilst the others starting shouting the things the family need Gregor's money to buy. Eventually, we all came out and shot our hands up, fell backwards and then all said 'Gregor' in the funny voice. The three of us then remained on the chairs and said 'Money' 'Cigars' 'Beer' 'Clothes' whilst moving our bodies forward and to the side. The others went 'tick tock' whilst Gregor tried to say hello to everyone. i thought this was effectively staged as it demonstrated how Gregor is an outcast but also how is under pressure from time. Gregor then got so angry and said 'I feel really ill,' we all dropped to the floor and then us on the chairs created the heartbeat again. Everyone else then got up around Gregor and starting to lean over him again. We did this too and all laughed histerically. Once we were all around Gregor, we created the bug shape using legs sticking u at the back and arms for antennae and his arms. We tried to make it symmetrical and, once we were all in position we dropped our heads. Gregor then screamed and we all joined in, lifted our heads, then dropped once more. We also had the audience stand around us so they could look at the scene from which ever view they wanted. I believe our scene used a few effective sound scapes and lots of actions with little words to demonstrate Gregor's feelings. Despite this, I think our scene really displayed the emotions of anger but also helplessness so communicated the right message to the audience although we didn't use the script.
• The other group's scene was also extremely effective. In contrast to ours, we were actually sitting in the scene as they had the chairs in a u shape on which they sat as well as us. They started by creating a train in the middle to show Chief Clerk calling Gregor. They then repeated actions and used lines from the script to speak to Gregor. They also got into the bug at the end using people standing on chairs. The most effective thing about their piece was the use of sounds as they really created the atmosphere of urgency and panic for Gregor. This really kept us on the edge of our seats and, due also to our effective seating, showed a great used of Artodian techniques.